After a touch-and-go dry spell earlier this summer, all three locations of the Yara Community Gardens are lush and thriving following the recent bouts of rain.
Garden coordinator Jeremy Zacharias says this growing season is looking to be slightly better than the last, and there’s already some tasty rewards ready to harvest.
“We're loving these rains and these thunderstorms, we're getting first crops already being harvested,” said Zacharias. “Things are just hitting that sweet time, when you can start to not only do your weeding but also go home with a few goodies too.”
Gardeners grow all sorts of green stuff: whatever vegetable comes to mind, it’s likely somewhere in the community gardens. Some have already pulled out potatoes, strawberries, and rhubarb this season.
Zacharias noted that this year, it seems flowers are a popular choice in many plots, which is a great help for the bee populations in the area.
He also divulged that some gardeners are even growing more unexpected produce — one gardener is growing peanuts for the first time in the gardens, and another has South African melons flourishing in their plot.
“It's a wonderful mix of flowers, vegetables and some different uniqueness,” said Zacharias. “It's just fun seeing the diversity of each garden, and of each gardener. You can see their heritage, their favorite foods come alive too.”
The community gardens, with two locations on Home St. W and one on Grey Ave, have between them 140 ground plots and 70 raised planting beds. Zacharias says there is always plenty of gardeners interested in snagging a spot, and new gardeners are always welcome.
The list works on a first-come, first-serve basis, so contacting them early to get your name in is the best bet to land a spot on the waitlist for next year.
Those looking to inquire about getting themselves a place in the community gardens are encouraged to call their home base, Hunger in Moose Jaw, at (306) 692-1916. During July, the office is open Monday through Thursday.
